The Unquiet Dead by Khan Ausma Zehanat

Author:Khan, Ausma Zehanat [Khan, Ausma Zehanat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Historical, Crime, thriller, War
ISBN: 9781466858312
Amazon: 1466858311
Goodreads: 22609840
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2015-01-13T08:00:00+00:00

21.

I apologize to the victims and to their shadows. I will be happy if this contributes to reconciliation in Bosnia, if neighbors can again shake hands, if our children can again play games together, and if they have the right to a chance.

Despite his desire to return to Ringsong, Khattak returned to the Blessant house, where he found Melanie and her daughters at home. He had debated pushing Hadley harder the other night, but now he realized the conversation would be better served away from the museum and Mink’s subtle influence. He might have been reluctant to acknowledge Rachel’s warning, but he couldn’t discount it altogether.

Rain pelted his cheeks as Melanie let him in on her way out. She’d granted his request for an interview with the girls without hesitation. If she knew anything more about Drayton’s will or his papers, she refused to discuss it, her mind preoccupied.

“Talk to them all you want,” she said. “Just don’t let that boy in, because I’m not running a whorehouse here.”

He winced at her manner of indicating concern and watched her go, hips swinging, heels slapping against wet concrete, an umbrella sheltering her crown of blond curls.

“She’s headed to the pub,” Hadley said, coming to meet him at the door. Her skin was paler than usual, but otherwise she seemed composed. “We’re in here.”

He followed Hadley to the dining table where Cassidy was seated in front of a polished paper cutter. She was absorbed in the task of measuring cardstock. As he entered the small room, she spared him a shy smile.

He could see why the girls preferred to work in the great room at the museum. The interior of their home was small, cramped, and shabbily kept, old furniture crowded together, yellow wallpaper peeling from the walls in long, damp folds. Whatever money their father had given his ex-wife, it hadn’t been spent on this house. The girls were identically dressed in faded jeans and blouses that had seen better days. He caught Hadley’s eyes on him, knew she had understood the judgment in his face, and hastened to cover it.

“You’re not at Ringsong today.”

“Mink’s busy tonight. What can I help you with?”

Hadley came to stand in front of Cassidy’s chair, blocking his view of her sister, a gesture that made him feel inexplicably sad. Why did it seem to him that this fierce young girl faced the world alone, bearing the weight of intolerable burdens? Or was she alone? Marco River melted into the room like quicksilver, toweling off his dark hair. It was obvious he hadn’t used the front door.

“Sorry I’m late. I had to wait for the tiger to leave.”

A kinder way of referring to Melanie than Hadley’s “Mad Mel.” For Cassidy’s sake, he thought. It couldn’t go on. Whatever secrets they shared between them, he would have to find a way to them move forward.

“Your mother gave me permission to ask you a few questions.”

“That’s because she’s an idiot,” Hadley said without blinking.

“You and your mother aren’t

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